Ottawa, like cities across North America, continues to face a shortage of social housing solutions for its population’s unhoused citizens. Some unhoused citizens, many with underlying health conditions which require additional help, are turning to their city’s parks for shelter. This is not the intended or legal use of these parks, and not safe for them or others using the parks. It is a choice they make without effective, alternative options in our city.
Responding to the urgent concerns of residents adjacent to green spaces, the parks committee spearheaded the June 2025 GCA motion calling on the City to effectively budget for and prioritize the building and operation of sufficient social housing with wrap-around supports to meet the complex needs of citizens experiencing homelessness; identify interim housing solutions outside of city parks to meet the needs of people currently living in park encampments; and address and resolve issues related to illegal park encampments in a humane way, applying existing laws and protocols with effective response times and increased monitoring to prevent shelters being set up in city parks.